Assessing food security in informal settlements using integrated quantitative, qualitative and spatial analysis approaches
Urban slums are among the most vulnerable environments in terms of food access, dietary adequacy, and livelihood stability. Rapid urbanisation, informal employment, and limited state support create conditions where households are highly susceptible to fluctuating food prices, supply shocks, and social inequalities. Yet, food-security assessments in slums are often hindered by a lack of reliable data, fragmented administrative records, and the complex, informal nature of local food systems.
This MSc research aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of food security in a selected slum area using a combination of quantitative household-level indicators and qualitative insights into food-access behaviour, coping strategies, and perceived vulnerabilities. The study will also incorporate spatial analysis to examine how micro-level differences in location, infrastructure, and environmental exposure shape patterns of food insecurity within the settlement. By integrating household surveys, contextual socio-economic data, and spatially referenced environmental and accessibility data, the study seeks to identify the drivers of food insecurity and the factors that shape resilience or vulnerability within these communities.
Objectives
- To quantitatively assess household food security in a selected slum using established indicators (e.g., Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Food Consumption Score, dietary diversity indices).
- To identify key socio-economic, demographic, and environmental determinants of food insecurity within the slum context.
- To explore spatial patterns of food insecurity and assess how proximity to food vendors, infrastructure, and environmental risks influences household vulnerability.
Methodology
The study will adopt a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data will be collected through structured household surveys capturing food purchasing habits, dietary diversity, expenditure patterns, and coping mechanisms. Additional contextual data such as household demographics, livelihoods, and price fluctuations will be incorporated.
Qualitative data will be gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, or participatory mapping exercises to explore perceptions of food access, constraints, social support networks, and local food-system characteristics.
Spatial elements will be integrated by geo-referencing surveyed households and mapping key features of the local food environment (e.g., informal vendors, markets, transport routes, and flood-prone areas). Spatially stratified sampling will ensure coverage across the settlement. Exploratory spatial analysis—such as mapping food-security indicators for sampled households, identifying localised clusters, and examining spatial associations with environmental and infrastructural conditions—will support interpretation of micro-level inequalities.
Data analysis will involve statistical methods (e.g., descriptive statistics, regression modelling, clustering) to identify determinants of food insecurity, combined with spatial visualisation and exploratory spatial techniques to understand geographic patterns of vulnerability.
Hasan, A.B.M.N., Luky, M.I.J., Rashid, F., Khanam, M.M., Hossain, J., Rabeya, M.R., Sharif, A.B., 2025. Household food security and its influence on psychological well-being: a cross-sectional study among adults in slums in Bangladesh. BMJ Open 15, e091640.
This topic aligns with SIS through the collection, interpretation, and analysis of socio-economic and demographic data related to household food access. The inclusion of spatial analysis strengthens the ability to identify localised inequalities and infrastructure-related barriers to food access. The focus on community wellbeing, inequality, and policy relevance directly relates to SPG, supporting evidence-based decision-making for NGOs, urban planners, and government agencies concerned with improving food security in slum populations.